Country bans unvaccinated children from school

Country bans unvaccinated children from school

Country bans unvaccinated children from school

Italian children have been told not to turn up to school unless they can prove they have been properly vaccinated.

The ruling comes after the European nation concluded months of national debate over the issue of compulsory vaccination.

The national law was introduced in 2017, but there has been several months of debate over whether and when it would come into force. The new law came amid an outbreak in measles cases – but Italian officials say vaccination rates have improved since it was introduced.

Children under six won’t be able to go to nursery and kindergarten without proof of vaccinations. Children between six and 16 are technically allowed to go to school, but their parents will risk a fine of €500 (NZ$825) if they remain unvaccinated.

Now in effect, parents who want their kids in school must have them jabbed with a range of standard vaccines including chickenpox, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.

Children whose parents cannot prove they have been vaccinated up to the age of 6 will be excluded from preschool and kindergarten.

The topic has been hugely contentious both in Italy and other developed nations across the world – including New Zealand – where there has been a global anti-vaccination push in recent years despite the fact that vaccinations have been proven to be one of the most cost-effective ways to avoid diseases in human history.

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that there are currently 27 confirmed cases of measles, with a further 20 suspected cases being checked. This, as the country, rolls out mass immunisation amidst the outbreak.

The World Health Organization called the anti-vaccination movement one of the greatest threats to world health in January.

One Comment on Country bans unvaccinated children from school

Linda

March 15, 2019 1:31 pm

How sad that big pharma is ruling children’s health. Children being inoculated with dangerous chemicals and we wonder why there is a rise in disease in children. Measles was a common childhood disease now they are making it a big issue for more dollars in big pharma’s pockets. We want safe vaccinations not ones filled with mercury, formaldehyde, etc.